Alzheimer’s disease is the kind of dementia that affects memory, judgment, and thinking. It usually creates confusion, trouble recognizing familiar surroundings or people, and trouble finding the right words or finishing a task. While the prevalent demographic affected is the elderly, Alzheimer’s sometimes affects individuals of a younger age too. With age being a significant risk factor, the disease poses a substantial emotional and practical burden on both patients and their families. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial in managing symptoms and improving the quality of life. 

Hospice vs. Palliative Care

“What Is the Difference Between Palliative and Hospice Care?”

It’s important for families to always be aware of the difference between hospice and palliative care as part of managing Alzheimer’s. Palliative care alleviates pain and other symptoms and supports patients with serious illnesses, to enable them to enjoy better quality in their lives. It can be provided at any stage of the illness and together with curative treatment. 

Hospice care, on the other hand, is directed to patients who are approaching life’s end and focuses on comfort and quality of life without pursuing life-extending treatments. It is composed of a multidisciplinary team that brings comprehensive support to the dying patient and his or her family during the last few months of life. 

Palliative Care

• Focuses on Pain Alleviation: The patient may or may not be terminally ill and may be treated for a disease or living with a chronic condition.
• Comprehensive Support: Addresses the patient’s physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being, suitable for all disease stages, following the patient from diagnosis to cure.
• Uses Life-Extending Medicines: Employs highly qualified personnel in a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Uses life-extending medicines.  uses highly qualified personnel in a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Provided at the Patient’s requested location: Usually given where the patient initially requested care.

Hospice Care

• Focuses on Comfort: When discontinued treatment makes the patient comfortable and prepares the patient and family for death. 
• Avoids Life-Extending Drugs: Uses a hospice nurse and family caregiver. 
• Provided in Various Settings: Can be administered in the patient’s home, nursing home, or hospital. 

Palliative Care For Alzheimer’s Disease

Palliative care is specialized medical care for serious conditions like Alzheimer’s. It aims to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Available at every age and stage of the disease, palliative care can be combined with curative treatments. 

A specially trained team of palliative care doctors, nurses, social workers, and other professionals works with your regular doctors to provide additional support. This team addresses symptoms such as despair, anxiety, and insomnia and can teach families how to prevent behavior triggers. 

Maintaining a schedule helps plan daily care, and incorporating physical activity and memory therapy can boost brain power. Good sleep habits, such as a calm setting and sufficient lighting, help reduce shadows and aid rest. 

Palliative care can also alleviate discomfort from other medical conditions like heart or lung disease. It can begin any time after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, with early initiation allowing a team to manage symptoms, discuss goals, and explore treatment options. 

Palliative care can assist families in caring for a loved one at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home as the illness progresses. Ensuring safety and coping with concerns about feeding, infection, hospitalization, and care location are critical aspects the team can help with. Palliative care is available in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and homes, palliative care eases Alzheimer’s symptoms and improves the quality of life. 

Hospice Care For Alzheimer’s Disease

Patients with Alzheimer’s and other advanced dementias must meet the hospice’s six-month life expectancy requirement to receive care. Given the variable progression of Alzheimer’s, families should discuss hospice care with a doctor when the patient enters the final stages. 

Family members of Alzheimer’s patients can also receive respite care, which offers family carers a break. Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance may cover hospice, comforting, and respite care, so check with your provider. 

The hospice staff can help families establish routines to comfort Alzheimer’s patients. After the loss of a loved one, bereavement counseling is available to help family members cope with their grief. 

When It Is Time for Hospice

Hospice eligibility requirements include: 

• Doctor’s Certification: Your doctor states that the patient is terminally ill and within six months of death. 
• Focus on Palliative Care: Palliative care is the best option rather than curative treatment. 
• Consent: You sign a statement choosing hospice care for your terminally ill loved one. 

Being Admitted to Hospice

A diagnosis other than Alzheimer’s can also qualify someone for hospice. Hospice provides additional support to patients and their families, including doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, caretakers, and volunteers. Support continues during and after hospice care, with grief counseling available individually and in groups. 

Palliative Care for Comfort and Quality of Life

Hospice provides end-of-life care, while palliative care has increasingly been used to treat pain and other symptoms at any illness stage. The National Institutes of Health and Nursing Research describes palliative care as managing pain, symptoms, and stress of serious illness, relieving pain, shortness of breath, tiredness, constipation, nausea, lack of appetite, and sleep difficulties. 

Palliative care helps alleviate Alzheimer’s symptoms at any stage, improving the quality of life for patients and families. 

You Are Not Alone

Families of Alzheimer’s patients often face immense challenges. Melodia Hospice Care understands Alzheimer’s and provides compassionate care. We offer pain management, counseling, and grief support for Alzheimer’s patients and their families. You don’t have to face this journey alone. Contact us for support with your loved one’s diagnosis.